WHAT WERE THE MILITARY, WEAPONS AND ARMOR, AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS LIKE IN SHAKESPEARE’S ENGLAND? WHAT WARS OR CONFLICTS WAS ENGLAND INVOLVED IN DURING SHAKESPEARE'S LIFE?
Answer prepared by: Neal B
During Shakespeare's time, wars with Spain and Ireland required weapons to fight with. Weapons used during the era include the battle axe, dagger, Halberd, longbow, mace, pike, spear, and crossbow. The battle axe was a single or double handed axe. The dagger was a short pointed knife. The Halbred was a combination of an six-foot axe, a spear and a hook used to pull soldiers off horses. The longbow was a large bow capable of piercing armor from a distance of 250 yards. The mace was a steel ball on a wooden handle to severely damage armor. The pike was a 18 to 20 foot long spear. The spear was a six foot pole with a sharp end that was used for thrusting. The crossbow was a form of bow and arrow that fired a bolt, had to be hand cranked and had a range of 350 to 400 yards. Swords were the preferred weapon of that time. All Nobles were required to learn fencing and they used a rapier. “The rapier was the favorite sword on the battlefield because it was light, sharp and could stab or cut easily”, according to elizabethanenglandlife.com on the Weapons page. Innovations in weaponry caused some weapons to be replaced during this era, like the musket replacing the crossbow. Also catapults, like the Trebuchet and Ballista, were replaced by the cannon. Unlike catapults, the cannon could be used at land and sea. With these weapons, it sounds like armor was a must. However, the armor used during the time period was more for decoration in parades than for defense against the enemy. The armor soldiers wore were often very elaborate and expensive, but offered little protection against weapons. Armor was made out of iron plates, chain mail, small 'shields' laced to chain mail, and was incredibly heavy. Armor was worn primarily used during tournaments where there was combat on foot and on horse. The tournaments helped prepare the solders for what they would really do on the battlefield during Elizabethan wars.
In England in the 1500's to 1600's, there were three major wars: The War with Spain, Desmond Rebellions and the Nine Years War. The War with Spain lasted from 1585 to 1603.”There were a few reasons for the war including power and wealth to be gained from trade from the new world” as stated by elizabethan-era.org.uk. Another main reason was the religious difference between the two countries. Spanish Catholics hated the English Protestants and English Protestants hated the Spanish Catholics. The Spanish Catholics saw the war as a religious crusade. Another reason was the Netherlands were under Spanish control when they staged a revolt. The English sent aid to the Netherlands and eventually declared them to be under English protection. When English troops were sent to the Netherlands, they engaged Spanish troops to start the war. Another war during Shakespeare's time was the Desmond Rebellions, also known as the Irish War. The English wanted to establish military governors in Ireland place of the local leaders in Munster. The first rebellion was in 1569 and lasted till 1573 when hundreds of rebels were executed. The Pope backed the Irish and sent money and troops to help. The English beat the rebels and troops. Before the end, England had a policy to burn all crops, which later caused a terrible famine in Munster. The last major war was the Nine Years War. A reoccurring theme to all of these wars was religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants of England. Also, the Irish lords believed the English settlers had too much power in Ulster (the Northern province in Ireland) and wanted to remove them. The Irish had aid from King Philip of Spain in the form of 3500 Spanish soldiers, but they were still outnumbered by English troops. The fighting continued until Queen Elizabeth died in 1603. A week later, the Irish surrendered to King James I of England on good terms, ending another war with England.
Answer prepared by: Neal B
During Shakespeare's time, wars with Spain and Ireland required weapons to fight with. Weapons used during the era include the battle axe, dagger, Halberd, longbow, mace, pike, spear, and crossbow. The battle axe was a single or double handed axe. The dagger was a short pointed knife. The Halbred was a combination of an six-foot axe, a spear and a hook used to pull soldiers off horses. The longbow was a large bow capable of piercing armor from a distance of 250 yards. The mace was a steel ball on a wooden handle to severely damage armor. The pike was a 18 to 20 foot long spear. The spear was a six foot pole with a sharp end that was used for thrusting. The crossbow was a form of bow and arrow that fired a bolt, had to be hand cranked and had a range of 350 to 400 yards. Swords were the preferred weapon of that time. All Nobles were required to learn fencing and they used a rapier. “The rapier was the favorite sword on the battlefield because it was light, sharp and could stab or cut easily”, according to elizabethanenglandlife.com on the Weapons page. Innovations in weaponry caused some weapons to be replaced during this era, like the musket replacing the crossbow. Also catapults, like the Trebuchet and Ballista, were replaced by the cannon. Unlike catapults, the cannon could be used at land and sea. With these weapons, it sounds like armor was a must. However, the armor used during the time period was more for decoration in parades than for defense against the enemy. The armor soldiers wore were often very elaborate and expensive, but offered little protection against weapons. Armor was made out of iron plates, chain mail, small 'shields' laced to chain mail, and was incredibly heavy. Armor was worn primarily used during tournaments where there was combat on foot and on horse. The tournaments helped prepare the solders for what they would really do on the battlefield during Elizabethan wars.
In England in the 1500's to 1600's, there were three major wars: The War with Spain, Desmond Rebellions and the Nine Years War. The War with Spain lasted from 1585 to 1603.”There were a few reasons for the war including power and wealth to be gained from trade from the new world” as stated by elizabethan-era.org.uk. Another main reason was the religious difference between the two countries. Spanish Catholics hated the English Protestants and English Protestants hated the Spanish Catholics. The Spanish Catholics saw the war as a religious crusade. Another reason was the Netherlands were under Spanish control when they staged a revolt. The English sent aid to the Netherlands and eventually declared them to be under English protection. When English troops were sent to the Netherlands, they engaged Spanish troops to start the war. Another war during Shakespeare's time was the Desmond Rebellions, also known as the Irish War. The English wanted to establish military governors in Ireland place of the local leaders in Munster. The first rebellion was in 1569 and lasted till 1573 when hundreds of rebels were executed. The Pope backed the Irish and sent money and troops to help. The English beat the rebels and troops. Before the end, England had a policy to burn all crops, which later caused a terrible famine in Munster. The last major war was the Nine Years War. A reoccurring theme to all of these wars was religious conflict between Catholics and Protestants of England. Also, the Irish lords believed the English settlers had too much power in Ulster (the Northern province in Ireland) and wanted to remove them. The Irish had aid from King Philip of Spain in the form of 3500 Spanish soldiers, but they were still outnumbered by English troops. The fighting continued until Queen Elizabeth died in 1603. A week later, the Irish surrendered to King James I of England on good terms, ending another war with England.